Originally from Ontario, Kerstin followed a footloose and fancy-free path that brought her to a life in Victoria and a shoe store business now 36 years strong. (This path included hitchhiking with a girlfriend from Edmonton to the island in 1977 “because that’s just what you did in those days.”)

I meet Kerstin in her Fairfield home for decaf lattes, a tour of her beautiful garden sanctuary and a chat about life, style and her favourite pair of shoes (spoiler alert, she couldn’t choose just one).

Rewind to the early 80s where a 20-something Kerstin arrived in Victoria, met her partner and started working with him in his retail store on Johnson Street. Called Renaissance Shop, it had a real “hippy vibe,” selling velour jumpsuits and crystals. It also had a leather workshop in the back. The first shoe brand they carried was Birkenstocks. That soon grew into more shoe brands and the beginning of Footloose shoes in 1983.

With so many years in the shoe business behind her, I wonder, what does she love most about her work? For Kerstin, it’s the buying and the relationships she has developed with customers.

“We have been carrying some brands for a number of years, so we have great relationships with our shoe reps. I think you have to be a people person to be in this business and some of our regular customers are so nice.”

Outside of work, it’s clear that Kerstin is passionate about her garden and all of the wild birds that come to visit, including a couple of crows who have become regulars.

She’s also passionate about health and wellness, and has run five marathons.

“I’ve never been a competitive person who needs to be the best, but I like to challenge myself. The training is daunting at first but then after it’s done you feel so good. I also started biking about five years ago; I have a road bike and I really like it.”

Asked how she would describe her style, she says, “Relaxed!”

She laughs, “I’ve never been a heel girl; when I discovered Birkenstocks I thought they were the coolest thing I had ever seen. To me good style is clean, simple and not overdone.”

Since she is a mother and grandmother, I ask which qualities she hopes she has passed on, and she says, “I feel like I’m a kind person; so [I hope they will be] kind, enjoy every day and take risks.”